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US 9,752,776 B2Granted
Pressure vessel and method therefor
AssigneeGas Technology Institute
InventorTimothy Saunders
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure vessel includes a pump having a passage that extends between an inlet and an outlet. A duct at the pump outlet includes at least one dimension that is adjustable to facilitate forming a dynamic seal that limits backflow of gas through the passage.
Claims19
A pressure vessel comprising:
- a pump including a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet;
- and
- a duct at the pump outlet, the duct including a duct passage defining a length, a uniform width along the length and a uniform depth along the length, at least one of which is adjustable, wherein the duct includes at least one wall that is movable to influence pressure that the wall exerts on a dynamic seal responsive to a detected gas pressure in the pump.
A method of sealing a pressure vessel, comprising:
- pumping a particulate material through a passage of a pump having a low pressure inlet, a high pressure outlet and a generally constant cross-sectional area, the pumping including moving two side belts in a direction along the passage;
- consolidating a portion of the particulate material within a duct at the high pressure outlet of the passage to form a plug of consolidated particulate material as a seal that limits backflow of gas through the passage, including adjusting a dimension of the duct to control the seal;
- and
- adjusting the dimension to influence pressure that the duct exerts on the plug as a function of a detected gas pressure in the pump.
1 more element
A pressure vessel comprising:
- a particulate pump including a passage having a generally constant cross-sectional area between a pump inlet and a pump outlet, the passage being defined on two sides by respective belts that are movable along the passage;
- a duct downstream of the particulate pump, the duct including a duct inlet connected to the pump inlet at a first fluid pressure, a duct outlet at a second fluid pressure higher than the first fluid pressure, and a duct passage extending form the duct inlet to the duct outlet, the duct passage defining a length, a uniform width along the length and a uniform depth along the length, at least one of which is adjustable;
- and
- a dynamic seal consisting essentially of consolidated particulate, wherein the dynamic seal is between the duct inlet and the duct outlet;
- and
- a sensor within the particulate pump and a controller in communication with the sensor and operable to adjust at least one of the length, the uniform width along the length and the uniform depth along the length to influence pressure that the duct passage exerts on the dynamic seal responsive to a detected gas pressure in the particulate pump from the sensor.
3 more elements
1 A pressure vessel comprising:
- a pump including a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet;
- and
- a duct at the pump outlet, the duct including a duct passage defining a length, a uniform width along the length and a uniform depth along the length, at least one of which is adjustable, wherein at least one of the length, the uniform width along the length and the uniform depth along the length is dynamically adjustable to influence pressure that the duct passage exerts on a dynamic seal responsive to a detected gas pressure in the pump.
A method of sealing a pressure vessel, comprising:
- pumping a particulate material through a passage of a pump having a low pressure inlet, a high pressure outlet and a generally constant cross-sectional area, the pumping including moving two side belts in a direction along the passage;
- consolidating a portion of the particulate material within a duct at the high pressure outlet of the passage to form a plug of consolidated particulate material as a seal that limits backflow of gas through the passage, including adjusting a dimension of the duct to control the seal;
- and
- dynamically adjusting at least one of a length, a uniform width along the length and a uniform depth along the length of a duct passage in the duct to influence pressure that the duct passage exerts on the plug responsive to a detected gas pressure in the pump.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.